He opened his eyes slowly. His eyelids felt weighed down heavily, as if someone had covered them with lead. All he could see was bright, white light above him.
Am I dead?
Not exactly.
Where am I?
I can't tell you.
Why?
If you don't know, then I don't know either.
What happened to me?
I am released. You let me take over.
Take over what?
Your mind. It is mine now.
But if you are me, and I am you…
Then was it not mine to begin with? You have good logic.
I learned some things from my brothers.
Perhaps that is true. Tell me, do you remember anything?
I know that I have brothers, and I know that I live with Dave. I know that I have…had a crush on one girl, but I hurt her.
Do you remember her name?
I…don't.
Do you remember your name?
Did it start with an "M"?
No.
A "J"?
No.
I don't remember.
Neither do I.
Where are we?
I told you, I don't know.
I hear people…there's a man, and a woman talking…is that man Dave? Who is the woman? There's also a boy talking…he sounds so familiar…I'm so confused…
I will tell you one thing. Your life is over.
So I am dead?
No. Your life is my life now.
But you're me!
For so long you trapped me, and kept me hidden. Now it's my turn. Night has fallen, and you must sleep.
No…leave me alone!
Sleep now…you've had your run. Go to sleep.
No!
Sleep…
He writhed in pain, his body convulsing with every jolt. He gripped the white sheets, and he heard the man and woman's voices raise, and he heard something odd, like a heart monitor beeping nonstop. Smoky wisps melded together and formed another chipmunk in front of him. He had red eyes, and his fur was dark and dusty. He reached out his charcoal-colored tendrils and grabbed the frightened chipmunk before him. The grey chipmunk opened its mouth, revealing razor-sharp teeth and blood red gums. The other chipmunk screamed, but the sound was lost in a torturous laugh.
Everything grew dark…
His body ceased to convulse…
And he fell into a tunnel, full of darkness…
And the heart monitor sounded a monotonous tone, as long as the monochrome tunnel he had entered…
Cold, evil laughter blended with the monitor's tone…
As did loud sobs from his father and brothers…
They would soon be joined by three Chipettes…
A small shrine would be made in his room…
Just a little token of love from the family and friends who loved him so…
Yet he is still here, and screaming for release from this nightmare. He is here…do you not see him? Do you not hear his cries? The manifestation that had plagued him moved to a new being, ready to feast once again. The youngest chipmunk is no more, his soul stolen from him by the evil that haunts us all.
And the grey still continues…
It goes on forever.